Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-12
WENT TO THE CIRCUS.

WENT TO THE CIRCUS.
Tho Educated Pig Was tho Means OF
Bringing Two Eager Children to Great
Exhibition.
Oscar and Fanny Hatton leaned
over the little garden-gate in the front
of their mothers cottage one June day.
in an ecstasy of delight. as. one after
the other. Hoop & Co.'S gaily-painted
circus wagons rolled slowly by on their
way to the market town of Scottsboro.
three miles distant, where an exhibit
ton was to be given.
Neither of the children had ever be-
fore seen circus wagons. and every
thing wore the wonderful charm of
novelty.
"What lovely pictures!" cried Fam
ny. They're nicer than any in that
book mother gave me last Christina"
cit must be grand to belong to a cir
GUS" said Oscar. who was three years
older than Fanny. ''How I'd like to
drive that wagon with the lion on it!'
''But perhaps there is lion-a real.
live one-lnside. too and he might get
out" suggested Fanny.
'.Td risk it," replied Oscar. with
boys carelessness of danger. ''Oh,
Fanny, look. lookr' as half dozen
little Shetland ponies came in sight,
followed by several elephants. 'This
makes me wish more than ever to go
to the exhibition"
''Well, we can't 90. and so there no
use wishing" said Fanny, philosophic-
ally. Lets pick the peas. and then
go down to the brook and wade.
That'll be fun"
mot as much fun "a going to the
circus" rejoined Oscar. and he sighed
as he watched the last wagon disap-
pear around bend in the road
1t seemed hard that he should be
denied so great pleasurefor the want
of only fifty cents. He hoped that
when he grew to be a man, he would
have money enough TO go to a circus
every day in the week. if he so desired.
The peas were soon picked. some pota-
toes dug, and a bucket of water drawn
from the well. and then the children
were at liberty to 90 to the brook.
which was in aneighbor's pasture, half
a mile away.
, Fanny had thrown off her sunbonnet,
and Oscar his hat. and they were hav-
ing fine time splashing in the clear.
limpid water. when suddenly they
were startled by the sound of a loud
grant, and. looking up. saw fine
spotted pig standing only few feet
from them.
Gracious. how he scared me!'' said
Fanny '.Where did he come from. 1
wonder? never saw him before"
I'll drive him away" And Oscar
Jumped from the brook and seized
stout stick. Next thing we know.
hs'll he sp!ashing in the water with
u.s."
But the pig lid not seem at all afraid
of the stick. Instead of taking to his
heels when threatened with it. he
raised himself slowly on his hind legs.
and. sitting down. bowed to Oscar
with an air of profound respect.
''Well, never saw any thing like
that before" exclaimed the aston
ishcd boy. while Fanny was too much
surprised TO speak at all.
The pig remained in an upright po-
sition for few minutes, and then de-
scending slowly to all-fourS again.
looked up at Oscar. as if in expecta-
ton of some order.
Oscar raised the stick again. and the
pig immediately stood on his head.
This beats everything ever saw"
said the boy. This pig must certainly
be crazy"
'.Let's run home and tell mother"
suggested Fanny. She'll know what
to do; and Tn so afraid!'
'.Afraid of what?' asked a voice,
and Tony Grim. the son of a neighbor,
came splashing across the brook.
Afraid of a strange pig! Well. you are
q credit to the country"
'.But this is such a queer pig. He
acts so funny" explained Fanny.
you'll be afraid of him yourself.
Tony. when you see how he can bow
and stand ON his head
'DOes he do that? Then shouldn't
wonder bit If he is the educated pig
belonging to the circus. noticed that
the last wagon that went by this MORN
ing had spotted animal of the kind
on it I'll bet he's got out some way
without nobody seeing him. Let's see
If he'll Jump over a stick"
He held out stick as he spoke, and
the pig went over it at once.
Like as not he does fifty other
tricks" said Tony, ''only don't know
what they are. But this is Hoop &
Co. educated pig. as sure as fate.'
They'll think he's los" said Oscar.